Color and Movement

Recently I did several arrangements using some beautiful Balou cymbidium orchid blooms and kohlrabi. The light green color and almost squid-like tendrils on the kohlrabi seemed perfect for ikebana, and I loved working with them. Combined with the butterscotch coloring of the orchids, the kohlrabi was a perfect companion in color and movement. Several different arrangements were made, and lots of combinations tried. I shot these with the late afternoon sunlight for a different feel from the studio lighting shots. My hope is to bring some life into my photography. During the month of January I took a few photography classes with photographer Eliot Cohen in an effort to get to know my camera and to help me understand how to shoot better photos . Which brings me back to the various ikebana artist websites, books, and magazine articles I have been exploring. Seeing how they photograph what they are doing, and how the background setting influences their work . It's all food for thought, and a way to think about what I want to do and how to make it work for me.

A Late Winter Return

It's been a while since my last post, much too long. For me it has been a very busy time that has kept me from doing any ikebana, at least any that I had time to photograph. During the winter months I have limited space to work and to set up my photography background, and that tends to make the work very rushed to get done. I really don't like rushing work, it's better for me to be able to start a piece and to stand back from it and think a while about it. I've also been thinking about what type of ikebana I want to do. I started examining ikebana artists like Toshiro Kawase to see some really stunning work that I have connected to emotionally. His work can be seen at his website http://www11.ocn.ne.jp/~kawase/index.html . These past few months I have really had to ask myself questions like "What direction I want to go?" , and "What kind of ikebana do I want to do?". "What excites me and draws me into this wonderful art in a way that captures my creative spirit and enthusiasm?" So during the next few weeks I will attempt to find the answers to all of these questions, and share my answers (and more ikebana) here.

A Harvest of Ideas

October Garden Delights

Today I did this arrangement of materials that were cut from my backyard garden (with the exception of the Indian Summer calla lily). I had planned to do some larger arrangements with some flowers bought yesterday at the Dupont Circle Farmer's Market, but the lillies were not yet open. There is something really fun about exploring the garden to find small gems to use in a smaller arrangement. I was happy to rediscover the heuchera leaves, and the blackberry lily. I also found one lonely nerine lily that is coming up. It's a reminder to me to order some new nerine bulbs to plant this fall so I can enjoy many of them in various colors next fall. Right now the lillies from the farmer's market have been re-cut and placed in a warm spot to open. I'll work on some sketches for my arrangement, and be ready to make it tomorrow morning. Maybe I will canvas the neighborhood for some native grasses, and see what other surprises await.

Inspiring fall fowers

Autumn, my favorite time of year for color and flowers. I have a few new arrangments that were inspired by fall colors. They were fun to do, but done with the fading sunlight in mind. I have to take advantage of the light at the right time of day, and sometimes I don't have the time to get an early start. Maybe next week I can be a little better prepared. Soon I will lose my "outdoor studio" to the late fall and winter elements, so I need to utilize it while I still can.

The remaining work from last week

Here are more pictures that I did last week. I really love all of them, but the one above is my favorite. The sweet japanese tea bowl was found in an antique store, exposed outdoors to the elements with other pieces that were stacked on shelves. Most of the other pieces were low end ceramics and cheap floral glass/containers relegated to the junk pile. This great piece with a personal stamp in the clay cost me only $4, but to me it is priceless.

A Productive Period!

The month of August has been a productive period for me. I've posted more new works that have recently been photographed, and I will post others. During the Labor Day weekend I hope to do a lot more. It's been a lot of fun, and a much needed release of creative energy.